Abstract

The purpose of this study was to collect data regarding the knowledge of and
compliance with Universal Precautions (UP) among operating room registered nurses
(OR RNs) who circulate, to determine if they are knowledgeable of their risk for
exposure to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and
if they practice universal precautions according to OSHA standards. The study
Population was OR RN's from four rural hospitals. A convenience sample of 36 such OR
RN's were observed over a 60-day period, for performance of up behaviors during a
variety of surgical procedures. A descriptive observational research design was used for this investigation.
Demographic data and data on universal precautions (UP) practices were collected
using a survey and a Universal Precautions Assessment Tool (UPAT), revised from a
tool developed by Gauthier, Tumer, Langley, Neil and Rush (1991). Demographic data
showed that the study sample was representative of an OR RN population with respect
to gender. A Spearman's Rho correlation coefficient showed that the more
knowledgeable of UP the OR RN was, the less likely he/she was to wear gloves when
applying tape to the surgical dressing (r = -.4438, p=.034).The two sample T-test
revealed that OR RNs who had attended a UP inservice within 6 months of being
observed were more likely to wash their hands after contamination (x=22.33,
SD=40.45). Wearing gloves when moving a patient (t=3.75, p=.001) and washing hands after removal of gloves (t= -4.03, p=.000) were found to be significantly different when the nurse had received the Hepatitis B vaccine.
Further investigation with a larger sample and a control group is needed to
ascertain which factors contribute to the problem of poor compliance with glove use and
handwashing behavior.